The Light, the Dark and the Ugly Read Online Free PDF

just use my wit and intellect."
    Natalie slumped back into the chair and tried to keep down her grumble so it wouldn't echo. "Great. We're screwed."
    The man directly in front of Natalie held up his hand. It was calloused and covered in soot. She supposed he hadn't had much time to wash up between the attack and what she assumed was a trial.
    "The tribunal seeks order."
    As Natalie sat up straight, Ted mimicked her.
    "Ted Finley and Natalie Dormer. You have been accused of crimes against the people."
    The man let the words hang in the air for a few moments. Ted looked over at Natalie, asking with his eyes if it was their turn to speak. She gave a light shake of the head.
    The man continued. "If we were to treat you as the light souls have treated us in the past, then you'd already be dead."
    Natalie chewed on the inside of her cheek.
    "But, instead, we'll let you plead for your lives."
    After several more seconds went by, Natalie gestured to Ted. "Better be some good intellect and wit."
    Ted straightened his shirt and stood up. "Honorable tribunal, thank you for letting us speak." He swallowed. The sound reverberated throughout the room. "We implore you to let us go. After all, we've done nothing wrong."
    Even Natalie couldn't have expected the violent outburst Ted's statement caused. Boos filled the room. When she turned, she saw several men and women spit with frustration. The only two people in the crowd who didn't seem to want to rip Ted's face off were Razellia and her daughter. A few more beats of anger went on until the man in the center of the tribunal restored order.
    "Mr. Finley. The living soul has been responsible for hundreds of crimes against our people."
    Ted cringed. "But, sir, I've only been on the job for a year."
    More boos spread through the room. They didn't spread nearly as far before the judge put up his calloused hand once again. 
    He shook his head. "Can you honestly say that you've never attacked a member of our race?"
    As Ted's eyes went down to his shoelaces, Natalie thought back to the battle in the caves. While she could argue self-defense, they were at least partly responsible for the deaths of three dark souls in that fight alone. Natalie never expected their reckoning day for those events would come.
    The judge sighed. "Your eyes alone give it away, Mr. Finley. I'm afraid we'll have to sentence you to–"
    "Tribunal, may I speak?"
    Natalie turned around to see Razellia stand up. The woman's hand was still grasping the fingers of her daughter. Natalie wondered if Razellia was doing so to muster up the courage to defend them.
    The judge gave an almost imperceptible nod.
    "Thank you." Razellia let go of her daughter's hand and walked to the front of the room. "Nobody is questioning the crimes of the living soul."
    Natalie sunk back in her chair.
    I hope she's going somewhere with this.
    "But Ted saved my daughter. And your children. The raiders will be back and with five times as many men." Her voice broke. "And we'll be powerless to stop them." Razellia pointed at Ted. "But with him, we stand a chance." She walked up to the center judge and put her hand on the podium. "Let him live so that he can protect us. When the bandits are dead, we can reconsider his sentence."
    Natalie looked back to see what kind of effect Razellia's speech had on the other villagers. While most of them remained in the execution camp, a few parents nodded their agreement with Razellia. Natalie faced Razellia again and mouthed the words, "Thank you."
     
    When the court adjourned without a decision, Natalie and Ted were placed back into the same cramped holding cell. Natalie knew that one or the both of them would've been put to death if it weren't for Razellia's intervention. A dark soul who'd had her gun pointed directly in their faces earlier in the day was now their greatest supporter in the village. Natalie wondered what other surprises were in store.
    Ted tapped his fingers absently against the wall. The sound